Multnomah County
OR · Pop. 803,863 · Urban County
Multnomah County sits in Oregon across 431 square miles, home to 803,863 people at 1865.1 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, corn, wheat. The median home price is $528,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.96%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 9a with a 244-day growing season, average summer highs of 79.2°F and average winter lows of 34.2°F. Annual rainfall averages 47 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center is 2.2 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 244-day growing season in USDA zone 9a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 2.2 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- Annual rainfall of 47 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A median home price of $528,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
- At 1865.1 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.
At a glance
Multnomah County, OR is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 41/100
- Median home price
- $528k
- Property tax
- 0.96%
- Growing season
- 244 days (zone 9a)
- Annual rainfall
- 47"
- Broadband
- 99.4%
- Nearest hospital
- Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center, 2.2 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Multnomah County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Multnomah County?
- Multnomah County is in USDA hardiness zone 9a with a 244-day growing season, average summer highs of 79.2°F, and average winter lows of 34.2°F. The established crops are hay, corn, wheat.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $528,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.96%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center is 2.2 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 10 hospitals in the county.
Explore Oregon Resources
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LandWatch
Browse rural land, farms, and ranches for sale across every state.
Lands of America
The largest listing site for rural property — farms, ranches, hunting land, and timberland.
AcreTrader
Invest in farmland online — vetted properties with passive income potential.
More counties in Oregon
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The closest counties to Multnomah County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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